Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky, the high offensive potential edition.

[NORiculous]

I think you have to deconstruct that holy word on HF: rushing. It depends on the player. There is an argument that could be made that he might learn better in the lion's den, like Daniel! I think there's a chance he trains like Kobe too, you take all that negative energy and you put it to use; maybe his stint on the bike and the videos of him training hard last summer were just a publicity stunt ala Galchenyuk? At the draft his main credential was great character, which sounds like training hard. Also he doesn't look like your typical spoiled top prospect, coming from Slovakia. Those reasons and more give me a good feeling about him, that's just a feeling, sure, but at least I gave you a couple reasons; and remember hopeless posters are just feeling their feelings too, which are probably influenced by seeing the shit hit the fan too often, which is in no way the absolute truth about Slaf's future.

True but he doesn’t seem like the brightest lightbulb though and the fact that his ceiling already wasn’t spectacular, combined with the way he was handled and the way Hughes talked about him makes me very nervous.

So Anderson 2.0 is my expectations right now if all goes well. Good character, good teammate, can chip in offensively, 50 ish points peak, maybe more intangibles then average, etc.

I do think that this lost year will be felt into his overall offensive production at least a little. But I am not yet doubting he will be an NHL player.

I agree that the reps would have been nice but I don't think POINTS were the goal here with slafs development. The points will come.

Yeah but there wasn’t any development though. No progress, nothing. That is my concern, we already know he won’t be an offensive juggernaut which makes the title of thread enigmatic at best.

 

[Gillings]

True but he doesn’t seem like the brightest lightbulb though and the fact that his ceiling already wasn’t spectacular, combined with the way he was handled and the way Hughes talked about him makes me very nervous.

So Anderson 2.0 is my expectations right now if all goes well. Good character, good teammate, can chip in offensively, 50 ish points peak, maybe more intangibles then average, etc.

I do think that this lost year will be felt into his overall offensive production at least a little. But I am not yet doubting he will be an NHL player.


Yeah but there wasn’t any development though. No progress, nothing. That is my concern, we already know he won’t be an offensive juggernaut which makes the title of thread enigmatic at best.

You know he won't be an offensive juggernaut by an injured season at 18y/o first year in N/A....

Dude did you even watch him play at all? He showed the most potential than any other draft pick in his year. He also showed how he just turned 18 and came over to n/a..

 

[Naslundforever]

There was a kid on my street was a gigantic toddler everyone thought he was a really dumb grade schooler, poor kid. No idea how he turned out.

 

[NotProkofievian]

A 16 year old outproduced Slaf's draft year season, and we thought it was a good idea to throw him into the NHL because he dunked on Denmark and Kazakhstan.

 

[Habs]

There was a kid on my street was a gigantic toddler everyone thought he was a really dumb grade schooler, poor kid. No idea how he turned out.

He posts here as @Runner77 he is nice, harmless enough, pretty good at GDT’s

 

[Runner77]

He posts here as @Runner77 he is nice, harmless enough, pretty good at GDT’s

Shots fired!

But, if it’s coming from @Habs, it’s a badge of honour. At least, I wasn’t referred to as an inbred.

 

[FF de Mars]

True but he doesn’t seem like the brightest lightbulb though and the fact that his ceiling already wasn’t spectacular, combined with the way he was handled and the way Hughes talked about him makes me very nervous.

So Anderson 2.0 is my expectations right now if all goes well. Good character, good teammate, can chip in offensively, 50 ish points peak, maybe more intangibles then average, etc.

I do think that this lost year will be felt into his overall offensive production at least a little. But I am not yet doubting he will be an NHL player.


Yeah but there wasn’t any development though. No progress, nothing. That is my concern, we already know he won’t be an offensive juggernaut which makes the title of thread enigmatic at best.

He already has better hands than Anderson and makes better passes. You are also comparing a developing prospect to a vet. I think you mean production wise, but they play a different style. I don't see them as comparable. Anderson is a speedster, Slafkovsky is stronger but slower.

A 16 year old outproduced Slaf's draft year season, and we thought it was a good idea to throw him into the NHL because he dunked on Denmark and Kazakhstan.

Again with this production thing. Judging someone with production is like thinking someone is great because he has a lot of money irl.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Again with this production thing. Judging someone with production is like thinking someone is great because he has a lot of money irl.

The best players produce the most. If you make a list of the most productive players, it will also be a list of the best players. Points also predict more points, so not getting them is generally bad, and getting them is generally good.

 

[FF de Mars]

The best players produce the most. If you make a list of the most productive players, it will also be a list of the best players. Points also predict more points, so not getting them is generally bad, and getting them is generally good.

Growth isn't a straight line.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Growth isn't a straight line.

Never said it was. But who do you think has the more compelling case for more growth right now. Him or Nemec?

 

[NORiculous]

You know he won't be an offensive juggernaut by an injured season at 18y/o first year in N/A....

Dude did you even watch him play at all? He showed the most potential than any other draft pick in his year. He also showed how he just turned 18 and came over to n/a..

To answer your question… History. He had one good run.

I think Cooley and Kemel showed much more offensive potential.

He already has better hands than Anderson and makes better passes. You are also comparing a developing prospect to a vet. I think you mean production wise, but they play a different style. I don't see them as comparable. Anderson is a speedster, Slafkovsky is stronger but slower.

Yes I was talking about production.

 

[Kimota]

There was a kid on my street was a gigantic toddler everyone thought he was a really dumb grade schooler, poor kid. No idea how he turned out.

 

[V13]

The best players produce the most. If you make a list of the most productive players, it will also be a list of the best players. Points also predict more points, so not getting them is generally bad, and getting them is generally good.

U18 production is not an exact science though. Other wise Corey Locke would be an NHL superstar and Alexandre Daigle would be in the NHL hall of fame

If Slaf NHL production plateau at 30pts when he's 23+ then i will agree. As for now it's way too early to make a conclusion. I understand that some people are concerned because he was a 1st overall pick and the Habs could have gone with Nemec or Wright or Jiricek or Cooley instead but i think we should wait a bit and re-have this discussion in 5 years. As of now all cards and possible outcomes are still on the table imho

 

[MasterD]

You know he won't be an offensive juggernaut by an injured season at 18y/o first year in N/A....

Dude did you even watch him play at all? He showed the most potential than any other draft pick in his year. He also showed how he just turned 18 and came over to n/a..

I'm not sure about that. Slaf, Wright, Cooley (and Nemec) are all very different players style-wise and skill-wise, and I find it very hard to really compare them. They all have glaring weaknesses in their games, and who's to say which one will come out on top in 5 or 10 years?

I could be convinced that Slaf has the highest ceiling but he definitely also has the lowest floor, IMO.

 

[OldCraig71]

He posts here as @Runner77 he is nice, harmless enough, pretty good at GDT’s

You are going after everyone!

 

[FF de Mars]

Never said it was. But who do you think has the more compelling case for more growth right now. Him or Nemec?

Only God knows. If you compared a 2 month old cat to a 2 month old human, you would say the cat's growth is more compelling!

To answer your question… History. He had one good run.

I think Cooley and Kemel showed much more offensive potential.


Yes I was talking about production.

Production doesn't tell the whole story, had Slaf played with Suzuki and Caufield his production would have been a lot better. Had Slaf not gotten injuried he would most probably have played on the first line later in the season.

 

[Milhouse40]

The difference is Jack Hugues played in NA small arena. He has also a small forward.
Juraj come from Europe with out any experience in playing in a small arena. He also barely played any major minute in Europe. He needed to play 20 mins+ in the AHl....

He would not have play 20 minutes in the AHL......for you it's easy to say but it's not the kids that are getting ice-time in Laval, it's the veterans. Heineman is on the 3rd line despites a goal for game for his first 7 games. He's 21 years old.

He did needed 20+ minutes a game, that I agree with but the only way to get those minutes was really the OHL. Not the AHL, Not the NHL not in Liiga.

 

[rahad]

He would not have play 20 minutes in the AHL......for you it's easy to say but it's not the kids that are getting ice-time in Laval, it's the veterans. Heineman is on the 3rd line despites a goal for game for his first 7 games. He's 21 years old.

He did needed 20+ minutes a game, that I agree with but the only way to get those minutes was really the OHL. Not the AHL, Not the NHL not in Liiga.

He would haev still play 12-15mins in the AhL vs Nhl 7-10mins. I would also have 0 problem with him playing in OHL.

Mason McTavish played 29 games in the OHl. I pretty much see Slaf having a similar impact in the NHl as McTavish or Kent Johnson from the 2021 draft.

 

[Hins77]

I just watched few Highlights from Slaf this year. He is so huge and difficult to box out around the net at just 18 years old. imagine when he is gonna be 20/22 years old.
He also skate fast for a guy at this size
The only reason he didnt really produce on a regular basis is because he is not elite level.
He would have made 25 goals in Laval and everyone here would want him in Montreal next year.

 

[jrom]

True but he doesn’t seem like the brightest lightbulb though and the fact that his ceiling already wasn’t spectacular, combined with the way he was handled and the way Hughes talked about him makes me very nervous.

So Anderson 2.0 is my expectations right now if all goes well. Good character, good teammate, can chip in offensively, 50 ish points peak, maybe more intangibles then average, etc.

I do think that this lost year will be felt into his overall offensive production at least a little. But I am not yet doubting he will be an NHL player.


Yeah but there wasn’t any development though. No progress, nothing. That is my concern, we already know he won’t be an offensive juggernaut which makes the title of thread enigmatic at best.

The title of this thread is rose-tinted but you’re on the other extreme. No progress ?

The dim lightbulb also speaks English, Slovakian, picked up some Finnish. How about waiting (boring I know) to see what he does.

 

[Gillings]

A 16 year old outproduced Slaf's draft year season, and we thought it was a good idea to throw him into the NHL because he dunked on Denmark and Kazakhstan.

Can't wait for you to eat your words. Ill be there.

I just watched few Highlights from Slaf this year. He is so huge and difficult to box out around the net at just 18 years old. imagine when he is gonna be 20/22 years old.
He also skate fast for a guy at this size
The only reason he didnt really produce on a regular basis is because he is not elite level.
He would have made 25 goals in Laval and everyone here would want him in Montreal next year.

He is actually a very good skater, can dangle in tight and around guys, has a wicked pass, sees the ice well and when he is mature and if he pans out he is a SUREFIRE top 6 winger.

 

[Gillings]

Nemec 2 assists.. NJ. Know how to developp players

? This is our managements first crack at the can. The only player you are or should be referring to is SLAF. NEMEC was a top3 talent in his year of course he is going to produce in the AHL. Give this management 3 more years to see how they handled SLAF mesar and co and to be frank, one of those guys aren't going to pan out NATURALLY.

In the past, guys like ROY, KIDNEY etc wouldn't pan out but because of the talent behind the scenes we have now there is a better chance for them.

 

[NORiculous]

The title of this thread is rose-tinted but you’re on the other extreme. No progress ?

The dim lightbulb also speaks English, Slovakian, picked up some Finnish. How about waiting (boring I know) to see what he does.

Has nothing to do with boring… pay attention.

His history isn’t special. He had one good run. He was outclassed in the NHL and should have been sent down but wasn’t. Rushed?

Being rushed happens but you can’t really take it too slow. Why the risk then?

Hughes said something like « we could have sent him down… but if we did, he would have expected to produce, because he is in the AHL… what happens if he doesn’t ? »

Not sending a guy down because you are scarred he won’t produce is a HUGE red flag for me.

In the mean time… his play was subpar, did not drive possession, while facing very easy toughness of opposition. Look at the stats.

Then we learn that he hasn’t finished high school. Which adds to being a dim lightbulb… I know some didn’t care about this but I did. It shows a lack of a bunch of stuff (drive, brain, coachability, planification
and much more…)

On the other hand, what we saw was that he can’t keep his head up and is slow…

Then he gets injured…

I mean the ONLY thing going for him is his #1 rank, which has to be put in doupt at this point.

Hurray!!! if he does start training like Kobe and becomes a machine… but those are not the signs we are currently seeing… and it has nothing with being bored. lol

 

[Hins77]

? This is our managements first crack at the can. The only player you are or should be referring to is SLAF. NEMEC was a top3 talent in his year of course he is going to produce in the AHL. Give this management 3 more years to see how they handled SLAF mesar and co and to be frank, one of those guys aren't going to pan out NATURALLY.

In the past, guys like ROY, KIDNEY etc wouldn't pan out but because of the talent behind the scenes we have now there is a better chance for them.

Slaf would become a good player in the NHL, and I don’t have about it. He wasnt not necessarly ready to make the jump in the NHL, but before his injury, he was really better.
I also think we have a good management right now, and I trust them. However, I would have send Slaf in the AHL and at the WJC. 18 years old in the NHL is for those elite players.
It’s like if the management wanted that Slaf learn quickly.
It’s not because you pull on a young three that it will grow faster. Naturally, Slaf will become a much more complete player in the future.

 

[NORiculous]

and if he pans out he is a SUREFIRE top 6 winger.

These two words don’t go together. lol

Are you saying he is bust or top 6?